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Friday, October 8, 2010

10 Arts Pastry Chef Monica Glass and I have had great losses to Ovarian Cancer, as Monica's mother, Kathy Glass died 2 years ago from the disease after a 5 year battle. Monica has partnered with Éclat Chocolate and created Kathy's Gift. They'll be available for $8 at 10 Arts. See article on PhillyMag.com Pictures 14 & 15

Salon Vanity by Edmondo Blando hosted its third annual Locks of Love Day on Sunday, September 26th in its Center City salon. Salon Vanity gave free cuts and styles to those donating, as well as donated any gratuity and a percentage of product sales to the Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

Four Salon Vanity stylists donated their time and tips for Locks of Love – salon owner and stylist Edmondo Blando, Janine Antonini, Danielle George and Jennifer Luszczak. Many more donated 10+ inches of their hair for the organization though!

Stylist Danielle George strikes a pose with a striking Paige Miller.

Stephanie Lussier gets ready for the cut with Salon Vanity’s Roxy Brennan. Then Stephanie shows it off with stylist Janine Antonini.

Jayden Ridarelli (left) and family friend Chrissy Ross (right) pose for their before and after shots!

The Locks of Love day has come a long way in just three years – from 7 people in 2008 to 14 people in 2009, and this year we had 27 people in the salon donating throughout the day. There were a lot of repeat-donators who always donated their locks every two to four years. We had one man donate as well! Our good friend Thomas Chung donated for the second year in a row with us and we were happy to see him again. The longest lock? One person donated 13 inches of her beautiful red hair. It was a fun day with music, food and total transformations. We had generous donations from area shops as well. A big thanks to Ann Carol and the crew at Uncle Oogie's supplied a amazing food and the kind people at Di Bruno Bros in Center City donated their always delicious and welcomed cookies, brownies and cupcakes.

Salon Vanity owner and stylist Edmondo Blando takes Bethann Grasso before and after donating to the Locks of Love.

A huge thank you to all those people who came out for the day and the organization. Salon Vanity will see you again this time next year!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

I thought I had fashion over dose and couldn't take one more "fashion event", but after walking through the doors of the Armory last night (me and my wicked cold, don't get too close.) and spying all there was to see about Philadelphia Fashion Week I realized that this was not your typical fashion show event Philly has gotten so used to, this was a tricked out CMK Entertainment style event, and I realized I was in for a treat.I remember last year's event, and the excitement surrounding it, the press the buzz, it was overwhelming, but this year the buzz was drowned out a bit from The Fashion Collection, and even having FBH moving their events to August. But I say even if you went to those phabuloous events, and of course one of my faves Phasion Phest, Fashion Week at the Armory is not to be missed. I've covered NYFW for 10 seasons, and what I saw last night was comparable to the excited as hitting the tents at Lincoln Center (except you don't have to be a buyer, or know someone, you can get a ticket to this event by buying one. Plus in between shows, they don't kick you out of your seat, just to get in line again for a seat to the next show.)I am a tad under the weather so I missed quite a bit of the opening ceremonies but arrived to catch the last hour and really enjoyed what I saw. The first huge change I noticed was the placement of the runway. Yeah, that made a huge impression. Last year it was an odd figure 8 which trapped people if you were in the loop cause you would have to climb over the runway to escape. This year it was a more traditional runway, with plenty of seats, and may I say fantastic lighting effects (Advanced Staging Productions). The whole set up really made me feel something special was going on.

In between shows there was always some kind of entertainment for you to enjoy if you didn't feel like walking around or shopping at the many wonderful boutiques, or people watch or visit the bar, which I encourage you to do. Walk around, notice people, their styles, fashion is happening not only on the runway buy among the people at the event. Above: Casey Alvarez Band

Brian Sanders JUNK performance art. (I've seen this hot troupe before and the junk they are talking about definitely isn't an adjective.)

DJ Bruce and friends. (Is that DJ Adrien Hardy? i don't have my glasses on?)Andrea, Shariff and Leigh Ann BurkeJimmy Style ContrerasThe pretty girls were in the house: Kharisma McIlwaine, Vittoria Woodall with her equally beautiful sisters Cristi, and NicoleThe photographers were out in full force. So impressed that Phl Fashion Week had a riser for the photographers to shoot from. So often we are shooting on the same level and elbows get in the way. When I first came to Philly I would bring a ladder with me to shoots, we need one to shoot in NYC as there are so many photographers, not here, but at popular events like fashion shows, if you really want good coverage it is the way to go.I was in the VIP lounge, which was like a photographers riser, but it had free drinks. (Arcadia & Bus Stop Boutiques and Wilhelmina models)But the fashion conscious were throughout the armory. When I go to fashion week in NYC I don't shoot fashion, I shoot people, and it's no different than when I hit catwalk here. Above the fashion conscious catch the Arcadia & Bus Stop Boutiques presentation on the runway.most people like to capture the fashion, whether to buy that particular outfit, or to look for a similar outfit in their future.Looks like knit caps are here to stay. Thankfully they are getting more colorful. (Arcadia & Bus Stop Boutiques)Arcadia & Bus Stop BoutiquesGold is driving up the market, is on the runway (Carmelita Couture) and next season will be on the street. (Carmelita Couture)Leaya Lee and Sarah Cooper Bobersky

Tek Lado, a quarterly, bi-lingual geek culture magazine had their premiere issue kick off party at Trust in Old City. At the helm of the new magazine, which is free and can be found in the honor boxes, cafes and stores around the City are Editor Liz Spikol and publisher Mel Gomez. Above greeting her guests from the second floor.Nicole Simon-Gomez, Sid Simon, Bartash Printing, Manny Pokotilow, Marcy Panzer and Linda Simon. Southwest Philadelphia-based Bartash Printing publishes the magazine and is excited about the new project.The Geek Squad of Philadelphia: Geekadelphia's Mikey IL and Eric Smith, Chris Wink, Technically Philly,Geekadelphia's Tim Quirino and Joe Osbourne are of course found at the launch of the the innovative glossy magazine. What I found interesting was that on some pages the same article is featured in English, and in Spanish.Philly's #1 king of Philebrity Joey Sweeney stopped by to congratulate Liz on her new gig.Claudia Ruiz, Karen Gleason, Bartash, and Ricardo Huflazo, El Sel Latino Also seen at the party, Megan Smith, BrownstonePR who was responsible for organizing this event and is the magazines PR company.guest, Doug Wentworth and Martha NelsonKathryn Gronshell, Emina Hozic, Christina Kubica and Bruce Mags on the drums enjoy Guitar Hero at the premiere party.When not playing Guitar Here or Game Boy upstairs, guests enjoyed food from B Smith Catering.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

I stopped by the Henri David's Halloween Jewelery Store at 1329 Pine Street on Friday and picked up the newly printed Halloween Ball info, Philadelphia's best Halloween Costumed Gala.Halloween 2010 hosted by Henri David is back once again! Join the fun on October 31, 2010 at 9pm at the Grand Ballroom in the Sheraton Center City Hotel (16th & Race Sts.). Tickets are just $25 with costume and $75 if not.

Prizes will be awarded at midnight for: Best Celebrity Look-alike, Best Period Costume, Most Decadent, Most Original Couple, Most Horrifying, Most Hysterical,

As you know last Monday I had a fundraiser for my sister Judy Wilkin's benefiting Gilda's Club of South Jersey (donations accepted here) and it was the same night as the inaugural event of Nineteen Most Fashionable Woman in Philadelphia and the presentation of the Nicole Miller Fall Fashion Preview Party.Each women was picked for her unique styles, civic contribution and confidence

The event was held at XIX which is cleverly tied in with the title of the XIX Fashionable Women. XIX is really one of the most exquisite restaurants in the City, luxurious and comfortable. Above GM Adam Judeh and Lindsay Kaskowitz, Catering Sales Manager are at your service. (Thanks to XIX for the silent auction donation to Gilda's Club of SJ event)Not only is it a restaurant in an extraordinary hotel, The Hyatt at the Bellevue, but it's a stand alone restaurant too where Philadelphia's eat at for lunch and dinner. The balcony tables are my favorite place to sit. The exclusive event was kept to a minimum of guests so that all were comfortable in the setting to mingle among the fabulous people there.The event was the centerpiece of the Philadelphia Collection 2010, conceived in part by City Representative Melanie Johnson, and Mary Dougherty, CEO/Owner Nicole Miller Philadelphia

One of the XIX fabulous was my friend Kristie Gonzales. (My heart is broken, but my brain is elated that my friend has been promoted to Creative Services Director at KFSN-TV, ABC30 in Fresno, California. She's leaving on a jet plane 10/16/10, so be sure and say good-bye!)XIX has their new fall menu out.

GN Kang and Stephenie LaGrossa. Stephenie is also leaving on a jet plane. In November she's running off to marry Phillie's relief pitcher Kyle Kendrick in Napa Valley, then will settle in Florida for the winter in their new home. The restaurant Gigi will still be going strong in Old City, run by her GM Tommy. This past weekend Stephenie and her girlfriends celebrated her bacherlorette party in Atlantic City. First they went to Buddakan in the Pier Shops at Caesar then headed to Dusk, where Michelle Miller tells me they rolled out the red carpet for the girls and partied the night away.Lorie O'Connor, Lisa Cherill Chapman, Erin Loveman, Courtney Richardson, JamieLynn Samalonis, Lori Hechler DiBona, Jaclyn Forish, Heidi Hamels, G-n Kang, Pattie Brower, Marissa Brooke, Marissa Brooke Rosen, Christy McCallion, Bree Daneker, Corilynn Lyons, Erica Becht-Prushinski, Rose Velez Miggins, Philly Minx, Michelle MillerSurprisingly not on the XIX Fashionable list, but my number 1 most fashionable, the always fun Sabrina Tamburino. She is dripping of Nicole Miller every time I see her. No doubt she'll be on the list sometime soon. Michelle Miller, Carol Tamburino and the ever debonair Jeffrey Miller (GM Hyatt) round out this picture.The XIX Fashionable Women of Philadelphia 2010